Coroner says no foul play in inmate death
Also, career center holds open house; Ivy Tech hosts College Goal Sunday
Howard County Coroner Steven Seele has determined that no foul play was involved in the death of an inmate at the Howard County Jail.
In a press release on Nov. 1, Seele gave the official time of death for 51-year-old Rick Bartel of Peru at 1:02 p.m. on Oct. 28. He also disclosed the initial findings from the autopsy performed following the death.
“An autopsy was conducted this morning under the direction of the Howard County Coroner’s Office by a Forensic Pathologist,” Seele stated. “No indication of foul play was found. The cause of death is pending forensic toxicology and lab testing which will take 6 to 8 weeks for results.”
Corrections officers discovered Bartel, unconscious and unresponsive, in his cell at around 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 28. The officers and medical staff rendered aid until paramedics arrived and transported him to nearby Ascension St. Vincent Hospital where the coroner’s office made its determination that Bartel had died.
This is an ongoing investigation by the Howard County Sheriff’s Office and the Howard County Coroner’s Office.
KACC holds a business open house
The Kokomo Area Career Center, 2415 S. Berkley Road, will hold a Business Open House on Tue., Nov. 8, from 8-11 a.m. and noon until 2 p.m. Visitors are invited to learn about the career pathways available to students in Howard County and the surrounding area. There will be opportunities to talk with teachers and to explore the labs where students learn and practice their skills.
Ivy Tech hosts College Goal Sunday in Logansport
Financial aid professionals will be volunteering at Ivy Tech Community College’s Logansport location and 38 other sites in Indiana for College Goal Sunday, an event designed to help college-bound students and their families open the door to financial aid. The event is set for 2 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 6 on the campus at 1 Ivy Tech Way in Logansport.
Interpreters will be available to provide translations for Spanish-speaking participants. Indiana University Kokomo is also serving as a College Goal Sunday site on its campus at 2300 S. Washington St. in Kokomo.
The free program assists Indiana students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The FAFSA must be filed by April 15 for the student to be eligible for Indiana financial aid.
“Ivy Tech’s representative for Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program will be on hand at the Logansport site to aid students signed up for this program,” said Rachel McHenry, director of Financial Aid for Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area. 21st Century Scholars are income-eligible students who sign a contract in the seventh or eighth grade to meet certain requirements, including applying for college financial aid. Those who meet all the requirements receive state funds to help cover their college tuition and fees for up to eight semesters at eligible Indiana public colleges or an equal dollar amount at eligible Indiana private colleges.
The importance of submitting the FAFSA can’t be overstated and many students and their families can benefit from attending College Goal Sunday.
“Indiana is first in the Midwest and fifth in the nation in providing need-based financial aid to Hoosier students,” Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowry said. “But students must file the FAFSA to claim those funds, which go a long way in making the cost of college manageable for students and families.”
Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s) who should bring completed 2021 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2021 income and benefits information. Students who worked should bring their income information as well. Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their own completed 2021 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2021 income and benefits information. Students and parents are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at studentaid.gov before coming to the event.
Volunteers will walk through the online form line-by-line and answer families’ individual questions as needed. More information and a complete list of sites is available at CollegeGoalSunday.org.